Ducati Scrambler Review – Is this the one for you?

Ducati needs no introduction in the motorcycling community. But, since the inception of their operations in the Indian subcontinent, things have been pretty interesting.

The Monster created a huge fan following and a lot of people bought it due to an aggressive price tag and the Diavel is simply the most delicious looking thing on two wheels. There is a Ducati for every taste. But what if all those desires are put in a cocktail shaker, mixed well and served in a yellow rimmed glass.

The Scrambler is an answer from the Italian marque which has a little bit of everything you need from Ducati.

At first glance Ducati Scrambler looks like a grown up cruiser, infact it is a part of the new genre of bikes called the retro sportsters. It does re-interpret the design language of the scrambler from the 1960’s. So much so that it even skimps on new age essentials like a drive-by-wire throttle and a hydraulic clutch.

But that’s all the retro that the designers have indulged into. The headlamps are an LED unit surrounding the main beam barrel and host of other modern features on a bike that is neither too big nor too tall. The new Scrambler is fashionable and desirable like the original scramblers apart from being comfortable and great to handle.

It is powered by a 803cc (which is a 796 detuned version) producing 75 hp and 68 Nm of torque at a pretty low 5700rpm from a V-twin air cooled motor.

The engine was brought to a brilliant state of efficiency by Ducati engine pro – Gigi Mengoli, thanks to the 50mm throttle bodies it is very efficient of part throttle riding. The entire engine unit is buckled up in the super stiff Ducati trellis frame.

When riding in the city, the bike is much livable at around 3,000rpm. Once you are out on the open roads, cross the 3,000 rpm mark and the Scrambler shows you its true colour.

The acceleration is linear, considering the fact that it is an 803cc motor it behaves very decently and does not have that unnerving sharpness to the throttle which is much useful when going off the road. When on open road, make sure you do not pass the powerband, as at that point, the bike vibrates a lot.

The bike is extremely tamable, even a newbie can handle it with ease, thanks to light bodyweight and smooth gearbox. There a few crackers and burbles while downshifting on the otherwise muted exhaust. The ride quality is stiff but with a well cusioned seat, it did soak away most of the bumps but the larger potholes are felt considerably.

I also took this bike a partly offroad trail and just like the original scramblers it did not break a sweat. The higher ground clearance helps in skipping rocks and other undulations on the surface which are not particularly easy for usual two wheelers.

Ducati Scrambler has Brembo disc brakes works exceptionally well and offer amazing stopping power. Obviously, the braking system is aided by state of the art ABS system and Pirelli rubber that offers superb grip. We also tested the brakes on wet surface and the ABS kicks in gradually but is very effective. The tyre grip is very good, we did not expect the bike to lean considerably as much as a superbike does, but being a retro moto they performed very well indeed.

The engine is cooled by an air cooled system which is quite handy in reducing the overall bulk on the engine bay, but it gets really hot during those traffic crawls and at a point of time does annoy you. There isn’t a fuel economy computer, but we averaged a good 23.4 kmpl overall.

The torque curve is linear and hence no power wheelies on this one would be easy if given a chance. But on long distance rides it is rewarding and does accomplish itself as a very well sorted motorcycle with a potent mechanical setup.

To sum it up, there are many motorcycles with a premium badge on them. But not all can be so versatile and fashionable as the Ducati Scrambler. It is a comfortable bike to live with on a daily basis and it always put a smile on your face when you start it. In addition to this, you always get this ecstatic feeling of owning a Ducati.

At the price tag of about INR 8 lakh, it does make for a great value if only you have an open heart and a yearning to have something different.

About the author

Ishaan Bharadwaj

Ishaan was 17 when he sold his desktop to get into a go-kart. The thrill of speed had him right then. A mechanical engineer by choice, he regularly participates in national racing championships and drives around the country in search of good food.